Loose-leaf binder



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J. KAHN LOOSE LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 51, 1924 Dec. 9, 1924.

J. KAHN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 3l 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1924. 7

UNITED STATES JOSEPH KAHN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed January 31, 1924. Serial No. 689,634.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KAHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders and more particularly to an improvement in the form of binder disclosed in a prior application filed by me on September 22, 1923, and bearing Serial No. 664,154.

The object of the present invention is to provide a construction for a binder, more particularly to the parts constituting the contents securing means, whereby the particular n'iethod or principle involved may be available for more extensive usage and adaptation in the art, by simplifying and improving the structure to such an extent as to permit the locking device to be readily incorporated in loose leaf note books, record books and the like.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a binder equipped with the improved locking devices;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a book in fully open position showing one of the locking devices in detail with the parts thereof in locking position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the parts shown in section,to disclose the construction more clearly;

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the locking mechanism shown in Figure 3 with the parts shifted into an unlocking position;

Figure 5 is a detailed view slightly enlarged and showing the locking parts in unlocking position as viewed from the side and preparatory to inserting the sheet or sheets into the binder;

"Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 with the. parts shown in longitudinal section;

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 with the parts shifted into locking position:

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but corresponding to Figure 7 in that the parts are shown in locking position;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the locking member with the parts assembled to show more clearly the construction, and

Figure 10 is an enlarged detailed view in cross section of the binder in closed position as taken on line 10-1O of Figure 2.

The binder comprises in general,a binder cover consisting of top and bottom cover members 1 and 2 respectively, connected or hinged to a back section 3, and containing the binder contents 4 of the sheets or leaves removably held within the binder cover by means 0 the improved contents securing members consisting primarily of binder posts 5 extending transversely of the binder when in closed position immediately adjacent the back section 8. Without going into detail at this time as to the manner in which. the posts are mounted, it may be observed that the same are hinged at their lower ends to the intermediate member 6, extending longitudinally of the binder at the junction or line of hinged connection between the bottom cover 2 and the back section 3, and detachably connected and hinged at their upper or free ends to a somewhat similar intermediate attaching or locking member 7 extending longitudinally of the binder and along the line of hinging between the top cover section 1 and said back section 3. The posts 5 are preferably curved or rounded throughout their central portions and in a direction away from the back section so as to give them a somewhat curved formation not-unlike the similar elements found in the binders of the so-called ring type.

The binder cover may be either of the stiff or flexible form, that is to say, the covers and back sections may be of limp leather such as ordinarily used in loose leaf memorandum books for pocket use, or they may be of a stiff construction such as is found in record and account books for office use. It is to be particularly noted that in the binder disclosed, thecovers are hinged directly to the back section so that the binder opens and is otherwise constructed in the same manner as in an ordinarily bound volume. This is pointed out in order to draw distinction between the classes of lightly constructed binders and the more ponderous and massively constructed binders wherein the covers are hinged, forwardly of the back section with an inflexible rail in be- .the contents securing parts, the member heretofore referred to as intermediate con necting member 6, consists of a tubular rail 8 extending substantially the full length oi" the binder and preferably constructed of thin sheet metal shaped in tubular form,

With radially extending flange 9, which lies flatwise against the bottom cover and is riveted or otherwise secured permanently thereto, the major portion of the flange 9 being covered or concealed beneath the finishing layer or covering extending over the inside surface or bottom cover 2. At points spaced inwardly from the ends of the'tubular rail and at a point midway therebetweem are formed notches or open ings 10 facing-in ageneral upw rdly direction to receive the lower ends 01"" the post 5. As clearly shown in J." igures 1 and 8 the end portions of the posts are straight and provided at their extremities with tra: verseaopenings whereby they are joind in hinged Connection with the members and 7. Extending lengthwise of the tubular rail "Sis a rod 11 passing through the openings in the lower end of the post 5'; and secured against displacement in any suitable manner at the ends of the tubular railS. In this manner the posts are free to turn on the rod 11, the openings being sufliciently large in their circumferential dimension to permit the tree moi-'ement of the posts.

:Reiferring now to the locking mechanism, the same consists-of parts constituting member 7 extending longitudinally oi? binder at thejuncti'on of the top cover 1., and the back'section 3. The member 7 corn prises tubular rails 12, formed integral with a flange 13, extending flat-wise along the cover a-slior't distance inwardly from the hinged edge.

:The tubular rails 12, are located at the ends and central portions of the flange 13 and-extend a short distance in both directions from :the points at which the posts Sareattached, these points being identified 'by -notches or recesses 1d located interine'diatethe-ends of each rail 12, and formed by removing sections of the rails as shown in Figure 9. It may be observed that the rails 12 can-be united in. a single tubular rail extendingjtheafnll is th of the 'toiember 7, butiorreasons hereinafter pointed out the sectional. rail is preferable.

Mounted' on thetubuiarrails 12, and slidable; endw'ise thereon is sleeve 15,.slightly the th t longer"than t-he'distance between theend of the tubular .rai-ls, this dii'lerence determiningthe extent-of the sliding movement of' the sleeve. At the ends-of the sleeve are inserted'heads 16, for convenience'in shifting the sleeve in opposite directions. The amount that the sleeve may be shifted is determinedby movement required to complete the locking and releasing of the posts,

rails and are of the samewidth and circumferential dimensions. At one side of each notch 17 is a smaller notch or recess 1r opening laterally into the larger notch. These smaller notches are oi a size to, receive the ends ofthe posts and the entrance thereto is of suiiicient width to allow the posts to passi'ro'm one notch to the other in the movement of the sleeve. The. location of the smaller (notches 18, with respect to the circumference of the sleeve is clearly indicated in Figure 1, namely, iacing toward the posts when the top cover is turned back to the position shown. in Fi. 11'6 1, or better, when the cover 1 st...nds at right angles to the bottom cover. In other words, it is intended that the binde shall be opened to a definite position to make theloching action possible. This will be zqviained la er in more detail.

In order to provide increased bearing "for the sleeve, short marginal flanges 155" are formed along the two edges of the sleeve which embrace 'thefiange 13 secured to the binder cover it being obvious that a space or slot must be provided a-long'the rear side of the sleeve to permit the flange 13 to join the tubular rails enclosed Within the sleeve.

The addition of locking members complet the device these having'the form of locking pins 19 located within the ,:sleeve and are fixed thereto. As clearly shown in Figure 9 each lockingpin, comprisesa cylindric base portion19 which fits snugly in the sieeve, just beyond the end of the tubular rail '12. associated therewith and is secured by a rivet or pin 20 extending through said base. The locking pin 19 extends-from thebase 19 and-engagesthe passage formed by the tubular rail. T

in 0116 position, Figure 8, the pin traverses the recess 12 and forces through the eyein'the post- 5, and inthe unlockingposition it is Withdrawn from the recess and from said eye, Figure 6.

lhe manner in which the locking is pertormedcanbe best .iiinderstood from Figures?) to 8 in which a sin-glepost and looking device is shown in bothpositions. viouslyythe action is repeated.simultaneously at the. other point-sot locking ,so that the description of one will suiiicefor all.

Let itbe first assumed that the ireeends of .the posts are released ier the purpose of removing or adding sheets to the -contents l. (Figures 5 and Giso thattheposts are in .unloclting or released position. in which the sleeve 15 is shifted to the right extremity of its .movement, wherein the notch lgnregisters with the notch 14 of the tubular or internal rail 12, and the larger post end.

' With the post thus positioned, the sleeve is shifted to the left by pressing against its right end, to the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8. Now the notch 18 is carried beyond and to the left side of the recess 12 of the rail, and the notch 17 into register therewith, the pin 19, guided in the tubular rail, being at the same time thrust through the eye in the end of the post and the locking is completed, whereupon the pin becomes a hinge pin on which the post may turn.

In this connection it is to be observed that the posts are hinged at both ends, and

the recesses in the tubular members are cut away or extended circumferentially, so that posts can swing with comparative freedom about their axis. In this manner the binder acquires considerable flexibility, and in this respect is not unlike a permanently bound book. It is also to be observed that the notches 18 serve primarily as guides for the ends of the posts so that it is only necessary to insert the post ends into the opening formed thereby, and they are automatically positioned for locking. More over, the locking pins in looking position are supported on either side of the post by the tubular rail, so that a perfect hinge is formed without danger of the pins being bent and their operation rendered faulty. The advantage of the construction herein disclosed resides in a simplicity and lightness of construction, that permits of a wide application to loose leaf devices, with marked advantages over the ordinary ring binders and others that depend on tension to hold the posts in locked position, in that it requires a positive action of the posts to effect the operation and when once looked itis quite impossible for the contents to be accidentally released. In short, the binder in locked position is practically as secure as a permanent binder or bound volume.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, I claim: a 1. In a loose leaf hinder the combination of a cover, a post extending trans versely of said cover and secured thereto at one end, and means for locking the other end of said post, comprising a fixed tubular member secured to the cover and provided with a recess to receive the end of said post,

a slidable member mounted on said fixed member and having an opening adapted to register with the recess of said fixed member to guide the end of said post into position for locking and a locking member fixed to said slidable member and shiftable into and out of locking engagement with said post.

2. In a loose leaf hinder the combination of a cover, a binding post extending transversely of said cover, and secured at one end thereto, a tubular member secured to said cover and provided with a notch to receive the end of said post, a sleeve mounted on said tubular member and adapted for limited endwise sliding movement thereon, said sleeve having an opening adapted to register with said notch to guide said posttherein when said sleeve is shifted into one position and a locking member fixed to said sleeve and shiftable axially of said tubular member into and out of locking position with said post. i

3. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of a cover, binding post extending transversely of said cover and means for locking an end of said post to said cover, comprising a tubular rail secured to said cover, a portion thereof being removed to provide a recess for the end of said post, a sleeve mounted on said rail for limited endwise movement thereon, said sleeve having a recess adapted to register with the recess of said rail in one position thereof and an opening adapted to admit the end of said post and to register with said notch in another position thereof, and a locking member fixed to said sleeve and shiftable there with into and out of locking engagement with said post.

4. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a cover, a binding post secured at one end to said cover and means for detachably securing the other end thereto comprising a tubular rail secured to said cover and having a portion removed to provide a notch to receive the end of said post, a sleeve slidable on said tubular rail and having an opening therein adapted to guide said post into the notch of said rail, and a locking member movable with said sleeve to engage the end of said post, said opening and loclring memher being relatively positioned, to efi'ect the shifting of said opening out of register with said notch as said locking member is carried into locking engagement with said post.

5. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a cover, a binding post secured at one end to said cover and means for detachably securing the other end thereto comprising a tubular rail secured to said cover and having a port-ion removed to provide a recess for the end portion of said post, a sleeve slidable on said tubular rail and having a complementary recess and a notch opening into said recess and adapted to guide the end of said post into locking position and a locking member movable with said sleeve and axially of said tubular rail to engage said post.

6. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a binder cover, a post secured at one end to extend transversely of said cover, a tubular rail having a notch to receive the free end of said post, a sleeve surrounding said rail and provided with an opening to admit the end of said post, a locking pin fixed to said sleeve, said sleeve being slidable through a limited distance in opposite directions, whereby said opening is shifted into and out of register with the notch of said rail and said locking pin is simultaneously shifted out and into locking position across said notch.

7; In a loose leaf hinder the combination of a binder cover a postsecured one end to extend transversely of said cover, a tu bular rail having a recess to receive the free end of said post, a sleeve surrounding said rail and having a limited sliding movement thereon, said sleeve having an opening adapted in one position of the sleeve to register with the recess in said rail, and a locking pin secured to said sleeve and shiftable therewith axially of said tubular rail to engage and release the end of said post.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising a binder cover, a post hinged at one end to extend transversely of said cover, a tubular rail having a recess to receive the free end oi said post, a sleeve mounted on said rail and provided with a recess adapted to register with the complementary recess in said rail,,

transversely of the recess thereof to engage" and release said post.

9. In a loose leaf binder the combination of a cover, posts hinged at one end to said cover and adapted tor locking connection at their other ends, and locking means comprising a tubular rail, having portions re-i moved to form notches to receive the ends:

of said posts, a sleeve surrounding said rail and having portions removed to form coinplementary notches adapted to register with the notches of said rail in one position and,

an opening offset laterally from the notches oi sa d sleeve and adapted to form openings to receive the ends of said posts in another position of saidsleeve and locking" pins fixed to said sleeve and movable trans versely oi the notches of said rail, to lock and release said posts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my nan'ie this 43rd day of January, A. Da

' JOSEPH KAI-IN. 

